Valenzuela mayor orders closure of illegal dump

Valenzuela City Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian has ordered the closure of a long existing mini-dump, which was discovered by a Waste Management Office (WMO) task force undertaking an information drive on waste segregation in the area.

Ordered closed was the Santos Compound on Gumamela street, Urrutia, Gen. T. De Leon, Valenzuela City.

The 1,000 square meter lot, enclosed by a concrete wall, was converted into a dumps in the middle of a densely populated area.

The illegal dump had operated for some seven years, residents claimed. Garbage deposits have risen to some 10 feet from ground level.

"Ako’y labis na natutuwa na nalinis na rin ang basurang nakatambak sa Urruitia. This will be a great relief for the residents in the area particularly the students of the nearby Gen. T. De Leon National High School," Gatchalian said as he commended the task force led by Lourdes Ng for a job well done.

City Hall officials said the unnamed lot owner, who allegedly maintains several junkshops, had converted the lot into a sort of transfer station to recover recyclable solid waste.

They were told that whatever was left was eventually dumped in Montalban, Rizal. This could not be immediately confirmed.

The city government is also looking into reports that several other small vacant lots in some parts of the city are being converted into illegal mini-dumps, some allegedly sitting in the middle of residential areas and posing a threat to the health of local residents.

"We can’t allow this to happen to us. We are fully committed to making our city a really clean and healthy place for everyone. So I ask every citizen of the city to take the extra effort in keeping their surroundings clean," the mayor said.

He also asked them to report the clandestine operation of any dump in the city.

"Please bring to our attention and report any dump operating in your area. These are against the law, against our better sensibilities, against our very health which we should treasure more than anything. Health is, after all, even worth more than wealth," Gatchalian said.

Ng of Task Force Disiplina said they are well into their advocacy campaign in the most affected barangays on waste segregation.

She reported that residents of Urrutia, Gen. T. de Leon thanked the mayor after the illegal dump in the area that made life miserable for them in almost a decade had finally been removed.